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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Okoror, The Guardian's Correspondent, dies in auto crash
THE Guardian was thrown into mourning on Saturday following the death of Mr. Fred Edu Okoror, a Political Correspondent. Okoror died in a motor accident at Yergeda, a town near Talata Mafara, in Zamfara State, barely one hour to Sokoto.
He was on his way to Sokoto State on an official assignment to cover the meeting of the Northern States Senators Forum holding in the city.
He was aged 38.
An experienced journalist, Okoror joined The Guardian in 2002 from Anchor Newspapers. He had worked at the Daily Times, Weekly Express, ThisDay, and Hallmark Newspapers. He had left ThisDay Newspaper to publish and edit an evening paper, Evening Express.
On his way to what sadly became his last official assignment, Okoror missed a direct flight to Sokoto on Friday. Undeterred by that, he took an afternoon flight to Kaduna, hoping to continue the journey by road from there. However, the plane could not land in Kaduna due to inclement weather, forcing the pilot to hover the Kaduna airspace for about two hours. Running low on fuel, the plane made a detour to Abuja where it had a forced landing following a heavy rainfall.
In telephone calls to some colleagues on Saturday morning, which turned out to be his last, Fred narrated his ordeal in an attempt to reach Sokoto. At one time he contemplated turning back, he told colleagues.
After more than two hours of suspense and waiting the plane took off and successfully landed in Kaduna late in the night on Friday.
He spent the night in a hotel in the town. In the morning, he called the State Correspondent of The Guardian for directions to where he could get transport to Sokoto. Okoror then boarded a 504 salon car with four other passengers for the fateful trip to Sokoto; a journey he never completed. He was the only passenger who died in the crash.
News of his death was passed to The Guardian by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Mafara.
The Publisher of The Guardian Newspapers Limited; Mr Alex Ibru on hearing the news, expressed his shock and sent condolences to the management and staff.
The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze who alongside the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Debo Adesina monitored the movement of the body from Gusau to Abuja throughout the weekend, described Okoror as a dedicated member of staff who will be surely missed by all.
"We will miss one of our most diligent hands. We will miss his friendship. We will miss his infectious smile," said Izeze.
Adesina on his part remembered Okoror as "a good-natured colleague who devoted himself to his job and persistently sought to improve at his craft."
Said he: "Fred was a good friend. We loved him not only because he was a wonderful journalist but also because he had a great sense of humour."
Okoror, who is survived by his young wife and a four-month old daughter, will be buried in his hometown, Eidenu-Irrua in Esan Central Local Council of Edo State on a date to be announced by the family.
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